the peterkin papers-第24章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
out it； and now the bush came up to the sitting…room window。
She seemed to have heard him tell that the town of Quincy； where the granite came from； was named from them； and she never quite recollected why； except they were so hard； as hard as stone； and it took you almost the whole day to stew them； and then you might as well set them on again。
Mr。 Peterkin was glad to be reminded of the old place at grandfather's。 In order to know thoroughly about apples； they ought to understand the making of cider。
Now； they might some time drive up to grandfather's； scarcely twelve miles away； and see the cider made。 Why； indeed； should not the family go this very day up to grandfather's； and continue the education of the breakfast？
〃Why not indeed？〃 exclaimed the little boys。 A day at grandfather's would give them the whole process of the apple； from the orchard to the cider…mill。 In this way they could widen the field of study； even to follow in time the cup of coffee to Java。
It was suggested； too； that at grandfather's they might study the processes of maple…syrup as involved in the griddle…cakes。
Agamemnon pointed out the connection between the two subjects： they were both the products of trees…the apple…tree and the maple。 Mr。 Peterkin proposed that the lesson for the day should be considered the study of trees； and on the way they could look at other trees。
Why not； indeed； go this very day？ There was no time like the present。 Their breakfast had been so copious； they would scarcely be in a hurry for dinner； and would； therefore； have the whole day before them。
Mrs。 Peterkin could put up the remains of the breakfast for luncheon。
But how should they go？ The carryall； in spite of its name； could hardly take the whole family； though they might squeeze in six； as the little boys did not take up much room。
Elizabeth Eliza suggested that she could spend the night at grandfather's。
Indeed； she had been planning a visit there； and would not object to staying some days。 This would make it easier about coming home； but it did not settle the difficulty in getting there。
Why not 〃Ride and Tie〃？
The little boys were fond of walking； so was Mr。 Peterkin； and Agamemnon and Solomon John did not object to their turn。 Mrs。 Peterkin could sit in the carriage； when it was waiting for the pedestrians to come up； or； she said； she did not object to a little turn of walking。 Mr。 Peterkin would start； with Solomon John and the little boys； before the rest； and Agamemnon should drive his mother and Elizabeth Eliza to the first stopping…place。
Then came up another question；…of Elizabeth Eliza's trunk。 If she stayed a few days； she would need to carry something。 It might be hot； and it might be cold。
Just as soon as she carried her thin things； she would need her heaviest wraps。
You never could depend upon the weather。 Even 〃Probabilities〃 got you no farther than to…day。
In an inspired moment； Elizabeth Eliza bethought herself of the expressman。 She would send her trunk by the express； and she left the table directly to go and pack it。 Mrs。 Peterkin busied herself with Amanda over the remains of the breakfast。 Mr。 Peterkin and Agamemnon went to order the horse and the expressman； and Solomon John and the little boys prepared themselves for a pedestrian excursion。
Elizabeth Eliza found it difficult to pack in a hurry； there were so many things she might want； and then again she might not。 She must put up her music； because her grandfather had a piano； and then she bethought herself of Agamemnon's flute； and decided to pick out a volume or two of the Encyclop？dia。 But it was hard to decide； all by herself； whether to take G for griddle…cakes； or M for maple…syrup； or T for tree。 She would take as many as she could make room for。
She put up her work…box and two extra work…baskets； and she must take some French books she had never yet found time to read。 This involved taking her French dictionary； as she doubted if her grandfather had one。 She ought to put in a 〃Botany；〃 if they were to study trees； but she could not tell which； so she would take all there were。 She might as well take all her dresses； and it was no harm if one had too many wraps。 When she had her trunk packed； she found it over…full； it was difficult to shut it。 She had heard Solomon John set out from the front door with his father and the little boys； and Agamemnon was busy holding the horse at the side door； so there was no use in calling for help。 She got upon the trunk； she jumped upon it； she sat down upon it； and； leaning over； found she could lock it！ Yes； it was really locked。
But； on getting down from the trunk； she found her dress had been caught in the lid； she could not move away from it！ What was worse； she was so fastened to the trunk that she could not lean forward far enough to turn the key back； to unlock the trunk and release herself！ The lock had slipped easily； but she could not now get hold of the key in the right way to turn it back。
She tried to pull her dress away。 No； it was caught too firmly。 She called for help to her mother or Amanda； to come and open the trunk。 But her door was shut。
Nobody near enough to hear！ She tried to pull the trunk toward the door； to open it and make herself heard； but it was so heavy that； in her constrained position； she could not stir it。 In her agony； she would have been willing to have torn her dress； but it was her travelling…dress； and too stout to tear。 She might cut it carefully。 Alas； she had packed her scissors； and her knife she had lent to the little boys the day before！ She called again。 What silence there was in the house！ Her voice seemed to echo through the room。 At length； as she listened； she heard the sound of wheels。
Was it the carriage； rolling away from the side door？ Did she hear the front door shut？ She remembered then that Amanda was to 〃have the day。〃 But she； Elizabeth Eliza； was to have spoken to Amanda； to explain to her to wait for the expressman。 She was to have told her as she went downstairs。 But she had not been able to go downstairs！ And Amanda must have supposed that all the family had left； and she； too； must have gone； knowing of the expressman。 Yes； she heard the wheels！ She heard the front door shut！
But could they have gone without her？ Then she recalled that she had proposed walking on a little way with Solomon John and her father； to be picked up by Mrs。 Peterkin； if she should have finished her packing in time。 Her mother must have supposed that she had done so；…that she had spoken to Amanda； and started with the rest。 Well； she would soon discover her mistake。 She would overtake the walking party； and； not finding Elizabeth Eliza； would return for her。 Patience only was needed。 She had looked around for something to read； but she had packed up all her books。 She had packed her knitting。 How quiet and still it was！ She tried to imagine where her mother would meet the rest of the family。 They were good walkers； and they might have reached the two…mile bridge。 But suppose they should stop for water beneath the arch of the bridge； as they often did； and the carryall pass over it without seeing them； her mother would not know but she was with them？ And suppose her mother should decide to leave the horse at the place proposed for stopping and waiting for the first pedestrian party； and herself walk on； no one would be left to tell the rest； when they should come up to the carryall。 They might go on so； through the whole journey； without meeting； and she might not be missed till they should reach her grandfather's！
Horrible thought！ She would be left here alone all day。 The expressman would come； but the expressman would go； for he would not be able to get into the house！
She thought of the terrible story of Ginevra； of the bride who was shut up in her trunk； and forever！ She was shut up on hers； and knew not when she should be released！ She had acted once in the ballad of the 〃Mistletoe Bough。〃 She had been one of the 〃guests；〃 who had sung 〃Oh； the Mistletoe Bough；〃 and had looked up at it； and she had seen at the side…scenes how the bride had
